Canadian · Montreal, Quebec · Born 22 January 1957Canadian ice hockey right winger who scored 573 goals in 752 NHL games, achieving nine consecutive 50+ goal seasons with the New York Islanders dynasty.
Michael Dean Bossy was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1957. New York Islanders selected him 15th overall in the 1977 NHL Draft — considered a steal given his subsequent production. His entire 10-season career was spent with the Islanders, winning four consecutive Stanley Cup championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). He is the only player in NHL history to score 50 or more goals in each of his first nine professional seasons. He scored 573 career goals in 752 games — a goals-per-game ratio exceeded only by Wayne Gretzky in the modern era. He won the Calder Trophy as best rookie in 1978 and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1982. He averaged 0.762 goals per game — the highest career average of any right wing in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. His career was cut short by a chronic back condition at age 29. He died in April 2022 aged 65. His scoring rate and consistency across nine uninterrupted 50-goal seasons represent a statistical achievement that may never be matched.
He became only the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in his team's first 50 games of a season, matching Maurice Richard's legendary 1944-45 achievement.
He scored 50 goals in each of his first nine NHL seasons — a record that has never been approached by any other player.
Did You Know?How They Played
Bossy was renowned for his exceptional shooting accuracy and quick release, possessing one of the purest goal-scoring abilities in hockey history. He combined precise shot placement with excellent positioning in front of the net, making him deadly on power plays and in close-quarters situations.
Lasting Impact
Bossy set the standard for pure goal scoring in the NHL and remains one of only nine players to score 50 goals in 50 games. His consistency and efficiency established him as arguably the greatest natural goal scorer in hockey history.
Career Honours
- Stanley Cup 4x (1980,1981,1982,1983)
- Calder Trophy
- Conn Smythe Trophy
- Hall of Fame (1991)
- NHL 100 Greatest Players
| Team | Period | GP | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Islanders | 1977–1987 | 752 | 573 |
 Canada | — | 38 | 39 |
Canadian Athletes